NOT The Book That's Advertised!

This is NOT what I expected based on the book's description. I thought that this would be a story of a family, you know- the family PICTURED ON THE BOOK'S COVER, perhaps. While this family IS mentioned throughout the entire book, Robert Kolker's work is primarily an historical overview of mental illness, schizophrenia in particular. I'd wager that 89% of the book deals with the study of the disease over time, with anecdotes of the poor Galvin family interspersed throughout as applicable.

When the author began one of the 1st few chapters comparing current ideas on mental illness to those during the time of PLATO, I began to worry....when, halfway through the book, I STILL did not have a clear picture of (the supposed main characters') NAMES, and was not even sure that the names of all 12 children had even been used yet, I REALLY began to worry that this was not EVER going to turn into the actual in-depth look at the Galvin family that I was expecting to read; as all summations and synopsis had led me to expect a different sort of book entirely.

While this IS a very well narrated work (an especially hard job with all the medical jargon), and it DID keep my attention, as I am a fan of medical non-fiction texts, it was just not the book that I thought I was going to get. As opposed to really 'getting to know' the Galvin family and learning their story, instead I felt that I merely got glimpses of the book that this COULD have been. Of the 10 boys + 2 girls in the Galvin brood, 6 of the boys develop schizophrenia, and some of them turn into desperate cases. Yet, instead of really delving into the ill brother's lives, more emphasis is placed on the mom, and the 2 sisters, ppl who are NOT mentally ill, and very important (the most important?) Galvin family tragedies are lacking in detail to an almost comical degree. At one point, 1 Galvin brother (Which one? Dunno! Hard to remember, as we NEVER REALLY GET TO KNOW THE BROTHERS VERY WELL--THE BROTHERS THIS BOOK IS SUPPOSEDLY ABOUT) is involved in an actual murder/suicide and this does not even warrant a chapter of its own! A few paragraphs is all, with sporadic mention of the incident here and there later on.

In the end, this is a MEDICAL TEXT with the Galvin family's story used primarily as anecdotal evidence to back up various points the author makes on the history of mental illness + the role of genetics in schizophrenia. This is NOT a non-fiction family drama in which readers will connect with the Galvin family....whatever all their names were. ---Jen from Quebec :0)

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EXCELLENT WOOOW THE BEST!!!!!!

the twist and turns of this book were amazing. I was absolutely captivated. It provided insight on a world we don't know much of. I have to read this again

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Highly Recommend

This was an amazing account of an incredibly open and honest family who attempted to survive and thrive in the face of the most serious of mental illnesses. The author took great care and attention to take the reader on this multigenerational journey. Would absolutely recommend!

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A must read!!

This story needed to be told and should be read by anyone desiring a deeper understanding of the complex dynamic between mental illness, the person and their loved ones. So informative about schizophrenia and the need for early intervention support for the person and the family.

1 personne a trouvé cela utile

This book truly is a captivating medical mystery and a heartbreaking trauma

This nonfiction book is a must read for all!
Kolker traces the events of an entire family and their struggles within. Their attempts to hide and survive schizophrenia, as it takes hold of six family members. Kolker further winds through the maze of schizophrenia diagnosis, medications and what we have learned over the decades. There is still so much to learn, but the Galvin family along with many medical professionals such as Freedman, DeLisi and Weinberger have dedicated their careers to this research.
“Schizophrenia’s inaccessibility may be the most destructive thing about it - the thing that keeps so many people from connecting to the people with the illness...But the mistake...is to confuse inaccessibility with a loss of self...Emotions are always accompanied by some sort of cognitive process...The cognitive processes may be unconscious, or automatic, or distorted, but it is always present.” We need to continue to learn, connect with and include all of our humanity on our journey throughout life. This book reminds us of the journey we are in together and that humanity is important for all of us, not only those who can afford the treatment.
Thank you Robert Kolker and the Galvin family for this bold and important book!

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I couldn't put it down!

2 stories in one. The Galvin Family story was saddening but fascinating at the same time. Questions raised through out around potential causes of the disease, the age old argument of nature vrs nurture. How each of the 14 family members were affected even though only 6 were officially diagnosed.

The story of schizophrenia throughout the 1900's, the various treatment regimes that changed as new research and technology became available and the very sad fact that despite continued work in this field there is still no definitive answer on what causes it or how best to treat it.

The two intertwined stories made this an exceptional read that had me hooked fro. the start!

1 personne a trouvé cela utile

What an incredible story!

The story of this family is a testament to the power of resilience despite the secrets, the illness and pain.
" The clearest way that you can show endurance is by sticking with the family." Anne Tyler

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Non-fiction so intriguing, it sounds like fiction

I had just watched the Russell Crowe movie A Beautiful Mind, the true story about John Forbes Nash Jr, a mathematical genius who suffered schizophrenia. So it was going to be hard for Hidden Valley Road to reach that story level but indeed, it surpasses it with the remarkable family records and the amazing research by the author.

best book I ever read

I absolutely loved how this book followed the life of a very messy family as they broke down the history of mental illness I'm America

Speechless

Anyone who has mental illness and/or neurodivergence in their family or life should read this book.